Selector mechanism



July 10, 1956 E. F. KLEINSCHMIDT 2,754,361

SELECTOR MECHANISM Filed on. 16, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR /82 /7,2, EDWARD E KLEINSCHMIDT /66 BY g/ ATTORNEYS July 10, 1956 E. F. KLEINSCHMIDT 2,754,361

SELECTOR MECHANISM Filed Oct. 16. 1950 as Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR EDWARD E KLEINSCHMIDT ATTO RNEYS y 0, 1956 E. F. KLEINSCHMIDT 2,754,361

SELECTOR MECHANISM Filedpct. 16, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR EDWARD F1 KLEINSCHMIDT ATTORNEYS United States harem 6 snrncron MECHANISM Edward F. Kleinsehmidt, Wilmette, 111., assignor to Kleinschmidt Laboratories, Inc., Deerfield, EL, a corporation of Delaware Application October 16, 1950, Serial No. 190,359

47 Claims. (Cl. 178-33) This invention relates to selector mechanisms in which mechanical apparatus is selectively positioned to various pre-deterrnined settings in accordance with received coded electrical impulses. More particularly, the invention relates to selector mechanisms such as are used for effecting the operation of telegraph printers which comprise a set of selector levers adapted to be positioned or conditioned in different combinations in response to code signals comprising permutations of two diiferent electrical conditions, either current or no-current or positive and negative current potential, extending through a definite number of successive time intervals.

Such selectors are controlled jointly by a rotatable member, such as a rotating shaft driven by an electric motor at a certain speed, and a vibrating member selectively positioned by an electromagnet in response to the received coded electrical conditions. Such selectors in the past have given better results, because of the absence of numerous electrical contacts, than have the electrical distributors often used in such systems. They have, however, been limited in speed of reception, which has limited transmitting channel capacities, and also has been a disadvantage in eme gency and military communication. This is particularly true when used in start-stop s"stems in which the rotatable member is kept in synchronism with the received electrical signals by stopping its rotation at the end of each signal period and starting it again by an electrical condition which precedes the selecting impulses of the code signals.

Furthermore, the prior single magnet selectors require more careful adjusting at frequent intervals, than the distributors, to keep them operating at peak efiiciency. Because of the high speed of operation of the relatively lightweight materials used in the construction of the selectors it has been diflicult heretofore to maintain the setting of the selector levers at the exact mid-portion of the regularly spaced signals, or even sufiiciently close to such mid-portion to insure satisfactory operation even at the prior operating speeds.

It has also been the practice heretofore in selecting mechanisms of the type disclosed herein to drive the selecting shaft, which was to be selectively positioned, by a friction clutch directly associated with a constantly rotating gear driven from a power shaft. The selecting shaft was driven only during its positioning period which was a small percentage of the time and the greater portion of the time the machine was in operation the clutch was permitted to idle or slip. As the parts of a friction clutch wear more quickly when the clutch is running idle or slipping it was necessary to replace the parts very often in the clutches of the prior art.

in order to overcome the above enumerated problems of the prior art, and to enable considerably faster selection than has been possible heretofore, the present invention provides a selector mechanism which operates positively and reliably at high speeds and at the same time reduces to a minimum the necessity for adjustment and replacement of parts. The faster selecting operation made ice possible by the invention is due to the novel stop cage construction in conjunction with an improved gearing arrangement. In the past when it was desired to attain higher speed, the entire machine was speeded up so that the various rotating parts rotated at a higher R. P. M. As higher and higher speeds were called for and the parts were required to make more and more revolutions per minute the strain and wear on these parts increased to a point where it became almost impossible to manufacture parts that could withstand the strain. This problem has been overcome in my novel selector mechanism by increasing the number of selections that can be made in one revolution rather than attempting to increase the R. P. M. to an impractical limit. Thus, by maintaining reasonable speeds and at the same time accomplishing more work per revolution, I have attained very fast selection While using comparatively heavy machine parts thereby providing a very durable machine.

With these and other considerations in view it is a prime object of this invention to provide a selector mechanism which enables substantially higher speed selection than heretofore available without subjecting the mechanism to damaging speeds.

it is another object of this invention to provide a selector mechanism in which all the parts are of sturdy construction and positive in their operation at high speeds.

Another object of this invention is the inclusion in a single magnet selector of selector levers so designed and arranged as to positively position associated levers to mechanically set up and retain the received signals.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a single magnet selector of an improved permutation or code plate or ring arrangement in which the usual drop-in stop bars are arranged in concentric arcs and the stop arm associated therewith utilizes its ends so that a plurality of selections may be made in one revolution of the stop arm.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a selector of the type herein disclosed of a stop arm associated with the code or permutation rings which has a plurality of operative portions to respectively coact with the stop bars arranged in respective concentric arcs.

Still another object of the invention is the provision in a selecting mechanism of a permutation device having a stop-bar cage in which the stop bars are arranged in concentric arcs to cooperate with a stop arm having a plurality of staggered operating surfaces at each end equal in number to the number of concentric arcs of stop bars.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a selecting mechanism of a permutation device including a drop-in stop bar cage wherein the stop bars effectively co-act with a stop arm to position a rotatable shaft, and other drop-in bars which are not stop bars are provided to condition or position other auxiliary apparatus.

Still another object of the invention is the provision in a selecting mechanism of an orienting or range finding means in which the adjustment may be initiated at a remote .point and registered upon a scale to facilitate the adjustment of the selector.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in a selecting mechanism of frictional driving means for the selecting shaft which are normally inactive and operate only to drive the selecting shaft during the selecting operation, thereby reducing to a minimum wear of the slip-frictional parts.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and from the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout,

illustrate a preferred embodiment for the purpose of disclosing the invention. The drawings, however, are not to be taken in a limited or restrictive sense since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the illustrated construction may be resorted to without in any way exceeding the scope of the invention.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of the selector, transfer means and stop bar cage of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail elevation, partly in section, ofthe range adjusting or orienting means embodied in the invention;

Figure 4 is a detail view of the, stop plate and plunger arrangement of the orienting means;

Figure 5 is a detail elevation of the stop plate and stop lever arrangement;

Figures 6 and 7 are detail elevations of the selecting means'showing the selector levers and Y-levers in alternate positions;

Figures 8 and 9 are detail elevations ofa portion of the transfer means showing the Y-levers, T-levers and code rings in alternate positions; and

Figure 10 is a detail elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the stop cage.

The preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is a selector mechanism adapted to receive intelligence in the form of coded electrical impulses and translate it into mechanical movement whereby a device, in this instance a rotatable shaft, is positioned in accordance with the received signal. The selector mechanism is of the start-stop type in which a rotatable member, in this instance a camshaft, is kept in step or in synchronism with the incoming signals by a start-stop mechanism which initiates the rotation of the camshaft in response to a starting line condition preceding each code group of impulses and stops the rotation of the cam shaft in response to a stopping line condition following each code group of impulses. The selector includes a single selector magnet, responsive to line conditions instigated and controlled by a local or remote transmitter which sends intelligence in the form of electrical impulses where.- upon the magnet operates its armature in conjunction with the rotatable camshaft to control the pivotal move ment of a group of selector fingers equal in number to the variable line conditions in one signal character code group. In the embodiment shown herein, five such fingers are shown to work in accord with the well known Baudot code. Signalling pulses from the line are received in the selector magnet which attracts the armature on marking or current pulses and releases it on spacing or no-current pulses. On attraction the armature blocks one end of the selector fingers and on release of the armature the fingers are unblocked. The selector fingers arev affected by the rotating cams to positively position five. selector levers in accordance with the signals received and the release of a transfer lever brings a set of five T-levers, in simultaneous contact with five selector levers. The T-levers take the setting of the selector levers and in so doing move a set of permutation notched rings or plates into positions corresponding to the code signal received to permit one spring pressed stop bar to enterthe aligned: notches to arrest the movement of a rotatable stop arm and position the associated selecting shaft in accordance with the received signal. may be utilized in any suitable manner for any desirable purpose such as operating certain electrical contacts, positioning a typewheel or positioning a type bar operating finger as shown in United States patent application Serial No. 182,514, filed August 31, 1950.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the selector electromagnet 20 is supported by an extension 21 of a The positioning of the shaft frame member 22, Fig. 2, in any suitable manner and is connected electrically to a signalling line. It is normally energized in accordance with the preferred practice of operating this type of selector and holds armature 24 pivoted at 26 in its attracted position as shown in Fig. l. A tensioning spring 28 has one end secured to the armature 24 and its other end to an armature adjusting lever 3i) which has its split end 32 clamped by means of a screw 34 to a shaft 36 journalled in a suitable manner in the frame member 22. The other end of the shaft 34 may carry an adjusting knob associated with a scale for manually adjusting the tension on the armature 2.4. Rotation of the knob in one direction will increase the tension on the armature 24, and rotation in the opposite direction will decrease the tension to permit the armature to respond properly to stronger or weaker line signals. Armature adjusting screws 46 and 48 have screw threaded engagement with cars 59 and 52, respectively, of the frame member 22 to limit the extent of movement of the armature 24.

When in its normally operated position the knife edge 54 of a strip 55 secured to armature 24 engages a shoulder 56at one end of a selector stop lever 58, Figs. 1 and 5, which is pivoted at its other end on a post 62 secured to the frame 22. Near the center of the stop lever 53 is a stop 64 which coacts with either of the lobes 66 of a stop plate 6?, Figs. 1, 3 and 4, to prevent the rotation of the cam assembly generally indicated at as, while the armature 24 is attracted by the magnet 20 and elements 64 and 66 are engaged. The stop plate 68 is loosely mounted on a plunger 7%, Figs. 3 and 4, and has ears '72 which fit in spiral grooves 73 in the plunger to provide means for orienting the start position of the selector cams in relation to the selector levers as will be explained hereinafter. The plunger 76 fits within the hollowed enlarged end of camshaft 76 and is rotatably pinned thereto to cause the plunger 70 to rotate with the camshaft 76 and also to be adjustable longitudinally therein. The camshaft 76' is journalled in the frame 22' and is connected through the usual friction clutch 82, Fig. 2, to constantly rotating power drive shaft 83 which is suitably journalled in a frame member 34 and connected to the drive shaft of a suitable motor (not shown).

The selector mechanism includes a set of selector fingers 88 (in this instance five in number) in the form of thin flat fingers arranged in a bank behind stop lever 56 on the pivot post 62 and the comb guide and stop member 90 secured to the frame 22. Each of the selector fingers 88', Figs. 2, 6 and 7 is provided with a shouider 92 for engagement with the knife edge 5 of the strip 55 on armature 2 when it is in its attracted position. The bifurcated upper ends of the selector fingers 88 engage squared shoes .94 free on post r32 to permit sliding as well as pivotal movement thereon. The stop lever 53 and the selector fingers 88 are each secured to one end of a coil spring 95. The other end of each of the springs 96 is fastened to a spring post as, Fig. l and the pufi of the springs tends to hold the selector fingers and sto lever against the stop andsquared shoes 94.

Cam assembly 69 on cam shaft 7s comprises the cams 100 which are spirally arranged on the shaft to successively engage the cam followers iiiii, Figs. 6 and 7, on the selector fingers 88 as the cam shaft rotates. Spacers 102, Fig. 3, are placed betweenthe cams iti't). Each selector finger 83 isoperated upon by two high cam portions 1M- which are diametrically opposed to provide a complete cycle of operation with only one-half a revolution of the camshaft 76. Through the action of the cams 1% on the cam followers iii} of the selector fingers83, one or the other end. of the finger 83 must lift. The end which lifts isdetermined by the position of the selector magnet armature 24.-at the time the, cam lilfiengages the cam follower of the selector finger 88. If the armature 2- 5 is up (attracted). as shown. in Figure 6 the shoulder 92, ofthe.

raise and slide on the shoe 94 against the pull of spring 96. If the armature 24 is down (released) as shown in Fig. 7 the shoulder 92 is unblocked and the lower end of finger 88 will be raised as the spring 96 holds the upper end and causes the finger and shoe 94 to pivot on the post 62. As soon. as the cam 15%) passes the cam follower the stored energy of spring 96 will restore the selector finger 88 to its normal position with its lower end resting against stop 9%. Due to the angula: formation of shoulder 92 on fingers 3S and knife edge 54 on armature 24, once the armature engages the finger it will be locked in position until the selection is completed even though the magnet 2% in the meanwhile becomes deenergized.

The selector fingers 88 are provided at their upper and lower ends with ears 1G5 and 1496 which engage arm 107 and leg 133-, respectively, of Y-shaped selector levers 118 pivotally secured on post 112. One selector lever is provided for each selector finger 88 and will be rocked to the right or left, Figs. 1, 6 and 7, by the movement of its associated selector finger 88. If the selector finger 88 is blocked by the armature 24 when its cam 109 engages its cam follower ltll the ear 105 will be raised and will engage arm It)? on the selector lever 110 to move it to the right (clockwise) as shown in Fig. 6 until the inside edge of the arm rests against a stop post 114 secured in the frame 22. if the selector finger 88 is unblocked the ear 196 will be raised against the leg 168 of the Y-lever 119 and cause it to move in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 7 until the inner edge of its other arm 116 rests against the stop pin 114. Thus, the successive operation of cams 19:) will operate the selector fingers 83 in accordance with their blocked or unblocked condition and this movement will be transferred to the Y-levers 110 which will be positioned accordingly.

It is desirable and advantageous in start-stop selectors to provide orienting or range finding means to vary the stop or rest position of the cams 169 relative to the selector fingers 88 to compensate for changing line conditions which vary the length and effectiveness of the signal impulses. As is well known in the art the mid-portion of the signal impulse is the most effective, and the range finding or orienting means provided herein enables the operator by adjustment of stop plate 63 to set the selector cams 160 in the proper position to operate the selector fingers 88 at the most effective point. Excessive axial movement of the stop plate 68 is prevented by a turned over hook portion 118, 2, 3 and 4 formed on one of the spacers 1%. This permits a slight axial movement of the stop plate 68 on the plunger 7%). The timing relationship between the selector cams 1G9 and the stop plate 68 is adjusted by altering the angular position of the plate with respect to the cam shaft 76. increasing the angle between the lobes of cams fill and stop plate 63 causes the selector fingers to operate later in the cycle. Decreasing the angle causes the selector fingers 83 to operate earlier in the te. The angular position of the stop plate 68 is adjusted by moving the plunger in or out of the cam shaft 7 6. The plunger 71 is pinned to the cam shaft 76 so that it is prevented from turning with respect to the cam shaft, and therefore when it moves axially the spiral grooves 73 in the plunger 7% coact with the ears 72 on the stop plate 63 to cause the stop plate to turn. Axial movement of the plunger 75 is controlled by a range adjusting lever 129, Fig. 3, pivoted on a stud 122 secured in an extension 124 of the frame 22. A cam follower 125 is formed on the lower end of lever 12 and follows a cam 126 d to a control shaft 128 which is connected through suitable gears 129 and 139 to a control knob 131 having an indicating scale 132 thereon, Fig. 1, associated with a pointer 134 formed on a plate 135. The knob 131 and indicating scale 132 may be located at a point remot from the actual range finding means, preferably on the front plate 135 of the machine where it can be easily viewed by the attendant, as he makes the adjustment.

v If the control knob 131 is turned so that the shaft 128 and cam 126 rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3 the adjusting lever 120 will rotate counter-clockwise and force the plunger 79 into the hollow cam shaft 76. This will cause the stop plate 68 to turn directly, if it is not held, to increase the angle between the plate and the lobes of cams 1%. If the knob 131 is turned so the cam 126 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction the low portion of the cam is presented to the cam follower 125. Then if the stop plate 68 is held, as it is for a stop signal, the friction driven rotation of the cam shaft 76 forces the plunger 7% outwardly to turn the cams 1% to decrease the angle between the plate and earns 1%, until the end of the plunger 79 again abuts the range lever 12%.

The range finding or orienting adjustment is preferably made while the selector is running and receiving repeated signals. The control knob 131 should be turned in one direction until the signals fail and the position of the pointer 134 noted on the scale 132 and then turned in the opposite direction until the signals again fail and the scale reading noted, whereupon the equipment should be adusted so that the pointer is set halfway between the high and low readings. if desired, means for locking the control knob 131 in its adjusted position may be provided.

Six yoke-shaped friction plates 136, Fig. 1, are supported on the rod 137 and four of them have their enlarged ends interspersed between the five selector Y- levers 119. The other two are positioned against the front and back Y-levers respectively. The surface of the enlarged ends of the plates 136 are embossed and when the plates and selector levers 118 are pressed together by a compressed coil spring (not shown) placed on the pivot post 112 between the first plate 136 and a collar 138 the friction between them is suificient to hold the selector Y-levers 11% in their adjusted positions.

it is to be noted that the selector Y-levers 116 do not have a normal position to which they are returned by spring means after each operation. Instead they are retained in their adjusted positions by the friction plates 136 and are not moved by the selector fingers 83 unless their position is to be changed. Their movement is always positive in that either the ear engages the arm 137 of the Y-lever or the car 166 engages the leg 188 of the Y-lever 11% to move it to its new position. The Y-levers 110 do not have a natural movement of their own and consequently their movement is minimized thereby reducing the wear of the parts and eliminating the possibility of error because of vibration or some other unauthorized movement.

After all of the Y-levers 11% are set in their selected positions by the selector fingers 8-3, the innermost cam 1%, Fig. 3, on the cam shaft 76 engages a cam follower 139, Fig. l, on a latch lever 14% causing the lever 140 to pivot counterclockwise on pivot post 142 against the pull of a spring 144 which has one end secured to lever 14% and the other to spring post 98. This will release the latch end 145 from a latch plate 146 on the end of a transfer lever 147 which is pivoted on a shaft 143 journalled in frame 22. A spring 149 tensioned between a post 150 and an car 152 formed on the transfer lever 147 tends to rotate the lever and shaft 143 in a clockwise direction. The transfer lever 147 has an integrally formed arm 153 which carries a forwardly extending post 154 upon which is pivotally mounted a group of inverted T-levers 155 equal in number to the selector levers 110 and sel ctor levers 83. The cross members of the inverted T-levers 155 are provided at their extremities with depending knife edges 156 and 157, Figs. 1, 8 and 9, adapted to cooperate with knife edges 158 and 159, respectively, formed at the tips of arms 107 and 116 of the Y-levers 110. When the latch 145 is disengaged from the latch plate 146 the pull of spring 149 will rotate the transfer lever 147 on pivot post 148 to move the arm 153 and post 154 downwardly. The post 154 will enter the opening between the opposed arms 107 and 116 of Y-levers 110 and thereby cause one of the knife edges 156 and 157 to cooperate with one of the knife edges of arms 107 and 116 and pivot on post 154 to simul taneously transfer the setting of the Y-levers 110 to the inverted T-levers 155. v

If the selector lever 118 has been moved in a clockwise direction by its associated selector finger 88 the end of T-lever 155 will not strike the end 158 of the arm 1637 but will pass beyond as shown in Fig. 8. Likewise if the Y-lever 110 has been moved counter.- clockwise the end 157 of the T-lever 155 will miss the end of arm 116 as shown in Fig. 9. It is to be understood that when the end 156 of a T-lever 155 misses the end 158 of the associated Y-lever 119 that the end 157 of that some T-lever will engage the end 159 of the same associated Y-lever 110, and vice-versa, as the parts are so proportioned and positioned that one end must always make engagement when the transfer takes place. To further insure the positive setting of the Y-levers 11% and T-levers 155 the ends 156, 157, 158 and 15% have angular faces which cooperate to complete the movement of the Y-lever 11d initiated by the associated selector lever 88. For instance, if a Y-lever has been moved counter-clockwise but not sufficiently for the inside edge of arm 116 to engage the post 114 the first engagement of the angular faces of the ends 156 and 158 will move the arm 116 completely against the post 114, Fig. 9, after which the T-lever will move to its new position. The action is the same if the movement of the V-lever 116 and T-lever 155 is in the reverse direction in which case the angular faces of the ends 157 and 159, Fig. 8, will cause the movement.

The upright arms 16% of the inverted T-levers 155 terminate n rounded ends 162. which are located in elongated slots 1'4 of the depending leg portions of a group of live coded permutation rings 166 in segmental form, Figs. 2, 8 and 9. The permutation segments or code rings 166 are pivotally supported on a hollow post 167 and are separated by spacing washers, not shown, to permit them to move easily in opposite directions without binding each other. As the inverted T-levers 155 pivot to assume the positions of the Y-levers 119 the ends 162 will slide in the elongated notches 164 and also pivot therein to move certain of the legs 165 to the left as in Fig. 8 and others to the right, Fig. 9, in accordance with the positions of the associated T-levers 155. The coded rings 166 will pivot about the hollow post 167 to assume their proper positions.

The coded segments 166 are a part of the code stop-bar cage shown generally at 176, Figs'l and 2, which includes a front guide plate 172 rigidly supported on the same hollow shaft which supports the coded segments 166, and a rear guide plate 173 supported on a bracket 174 secured to the frame 22. Several spacers 175 are. provided between plates 172 and 173. The guide plates 172 and 173 each have a plurality of slots 176 arcuately arranged as shown in Fig. l and with corresponding slots in alignment to each receive a pair of stop bars 178. The bars 178 are placed in the slots 176 so as to form an inner set and an outer set which are in concentric arcs; the rear ends of the bars 178 protrude through the guide plate 173 and coil springs 186, Figs. 2 and 10, are placed between the ends of each pair of bars 178 to force the ends apart and push the outer edges of the bars 178 against the inner and outer ends of the respective slots 176. Notches 182 are formed in the edges of the bars 178 and the guide plate 173 fits in these notches to serve as a fulcrum for the bars 178. The inner edge of the outer set of bars 178 and the outer edge of the inner set of bars 178 are pressed against the outer and. inner edges respectively, of the coded segments 166 by the compression of the coil springs 180.

The coded segmental rings 166' have notches184, Figs. 1,. 8 and 9, distributed. on theirouter and inner edges. in, a manner well kuownin the artto permit only one. alignment of. notches in. the. five. rings for; each of the thirty 8 two possible combination positions of the rings. The notches 184. in the first code ring are so arranged that when the code bar is set in. the clockwise (marking) position there will be a low point or notch opposite the stop bars 178 for those characters in the Baudot code in which the. first signal impulse is a marking impulse such as A, B, D, etc., and there will be a high point opposite the stop bars 178 for those characters in the Baudot code in which the first signal impulse is a spacing impulse such as, C, G, H etc. The reverse is true when the code ring 166 is set in the counterclockwise or spacing position. The second code ring 166 is notched in. accordance with the second impulse for each character; the third code bar for the third impulse, and so on. Therefore, when the code rings 166. have been set as a. result. of the transfer operation, there. will be one (except where. duplicates are provided as hereinafter explained) position along the outer or inner periphery of the code rings where there Will be a notch 184 in each of the rings opposite a stop bar 178. The pressure of the spring pushes this particular stop bar. into the aligned notches 184 thereby placing it in position to arrest the rotation of a square shaft stop arm 185, Figs. 1 and 2. The stop bar 178 which was previously pushed into an. aligned set of notches 184 is pushed out by the sloping surface at the, side of a notch in at least one code ring 166 when the code rings are reset by the transfer operation unless, of course, the same stop bar 178 is selected by repeating a signal. This action releases the square shaft stop arm 185 making it free to turn until it strikes the newly depressed stop bar. Three auxiliary drop-in bars 186,187 and 188 are provided to duplicate the stop bars 178 assigned to certain auxiliary functions which in the case of a telegraph printer might be line feed, carriage return, and figures shift functions. These bars do not project into the path of the stop arm 185 but extend beyond the rear guide plate 173. Coiled springs (not. shown) are fastened between the stop bars. 186, 187 and 188 and the bracket 174 to cause the inner edge of the bars to press against the outer periphery of the code bars 166. These bars 186, 187 and 188 do not engage the stop arm 185 at any time.

Operation of function shaft The function cam shaft 190, Fig. 2, is suitably journalled in the frame member 84 and arranged to be intermittently power driven, one-half revolution every time a complete signal code is received. The shaft 190 provides the intermittent drive for rotating the stop arm 185 and the selecting shaft 210 to the next selected position; performs the. associated functional operations; and moves the transfer lever147. When the transfer lever 147 (seev Fig. 2) was rotated by the pull of spring 149 the transfer shaft 148 rotated in a clockwise direction to rotate a clutch latch 192 and release clutch dog 194 which was thereupon moved to the right by a coil spring 195 surrounding the sliding jaws of the clutch 196 and permitted the teeth on the enlarged clutch face 197 to mesh with the teeth formed in the hub of gear 198.

Gear 198 is loosely supported on the function cam shaft.

degrees a transfer lever restoring cam 265, Fig. 1, on.

the end. of the shaft. 19% engages a cam roller 2G6. supported on a stud 207 secured in the upper end of thetransfer lever 147 which rotates counterclockwise, Fig. l, and. becomes relatched by'the transfer lever latch 140, they end. 145 of. which was permitted to. raise under the; pull, of. spring 144 when.- the latch plate 1.46 was; moved;

" from its: blocking position. The. rotation of, the; transfer lever 147 raises the arm 153 and the T-levers 155 are disengaged from the arms 107 or 116 of the Y-levers 11;; to condition them for the next setting. The shaft 143 also rotates counterclockwise to raise the clutch latch 192 into the path of clutch stop arm 194 and when the shaft 1% has made almost one-half revolution, the opposite end of the arm 194 on the clutch drum strikes an angular face 2198 on the clutch latch 192 to move the arm 194 and clutch face 197 to the left, Fig. 2, to disengage the teeth on the clutch face from those on the face of the gear 198. In this disengaging operation the angular face 208 on the clutch latch 192 acts as a cam surface with its throw in the axial direction. The function cam shaft 191 thus can revolve only one-half revolution at a time and does so each time the transfer operation takes place.

Positioning of selecting shaft The selecting shaft or square shaft 210, Fig. 2, has rounded portions which are suitably journaled in the frame member 22, and any other necessary supports depending upon the associated apparatus, to permit the shaft 216 to rotate whenever an end of the stop arm 185 is not in engagement with a stop bar 178 and the function cam shaft 199 is rotating. The positioning of shaft as the stop arm 185 successively engages stop bars 175 in accordance with received signals may be used for desired purpose such as operating electrical contacts or positioning a type wheel or a type bar operating finger. The stop arm 185 is rigidly secured to shaft 21 by the clamp 211. An anti-bounce clutch 212 is associated with the square shaft 210 to prevent any backlash of the shaft when the arm 1S5 engages the operated stop bar 178. The stop arm 185 has an inner projection 214 and an outer projection 216 on each end of its diametrically opposed arms 215 and 217 for engaging the corresponding rows of stop bars 178 when they are projected into the path of the stop arm 185. The projections 214 and 216 are separated angularly by a space equal to one and one-half times the space between adjacent stop bars 178 in the same row or are so that the stop bars in the inner row arrest the projection 214 when the projection 216 is halfway between two of the stop bars of the outer row. In the embodiment of the invention shown there are sixteen stop bars in each concentric arc or row thus making thirty-two stop positions available in one-half a revolution of the square shaft 211 It is to be understood, however, that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For instance the number of positions in which the positioning shaft 21$ may be set may be increased by adding more stop bars 178 in the present rows or by increasing the number of concentric arcs of stop bar rows. If more rows are added another projection such as 214 or 216 must be added to each of the ends 215 and 217 of the stop arm 185 as the projections on each stop arm end must be equal in number to the concentric arcs or rows of stop bars. The number of selective positions to which the rotatable shaft 210 may be adjusted per each revolution may be increased by providing more rest positions for the function shaft 190 and the associated apparatus.

The square shaft 210 is positioned in accord with the stop arm 185 and is driven by the function cam shaft 193 at a geared ratio of almost two to one through the driven gear 22% fixed to the shaft 210 and driving gear 222 connected to function shaft 190 through a spring loaded felt plate friction clutch, generally indicated at 224, which permits the gear 222 to slip on the shaft 1% as soon as the stop arm 185 is arrested by an operated stop bar 178. The friction clutch 224 also permits the function cam shaft 190 to continue turning after the stop arm 185 is arrested to actuate the associated functioning mechanisms. As the function shaft 190 always makes one-half revolution for each transfer operation it? the square shaft 210 can make almost a complete tur'fi because of the gearing ratio but it is never necessary for the stop arm 268 to turn more than one-half revolution before striking an operated stop bar 178 and it usually will turn less than that.

The friction clutch 224 consists of a disk 226 fixed to the shaft by a set screw 228, felt washers 230, one opposite each face of gear 222, and a disk 232 having a slotted hub portion 234 loosely fitted upon the shaft 195 A collar 236 is fixed to the shaft 190 by set screw and is provided with a pair of prongs 240 (only one of which is shown) which enter the slot in the hub 234 to permit axial movement upon the shaft 190 of the hub 234 and disk 232. A coiled spring 242 surrounds the hub 234 and has one end bearing against the disk 232 and the other end against the collar 236 which may be adjusted axially upon the shaft 190 to vary the pressure exerted by the spring 242 upon the disk 232 to adjust the frictional relationship of the gear 222 to the felt washers 230 and disks 226 and 232. When the shaft 19% begins to turn the movement is transmitted through the collar 236, prongs 240, hub 234, disks 232 and 226, felt Washers 230, gear 222, and gear 220 to the selecting shaft 219 which turns until the stop arm engages a projected stop bar 178 at which time it stops. The friction clutch 224 will then slip in a manner well known in the art until the function shaft reaches its next stop position. From then until the next operation of the shaft 1% the friction clutch 224 is inactive completely and as none of the parts is moving there is no wearing of the parts. As there is practically no wear upon the clutch parts when the clutch 224 is driving the shaft 210 it is apparent that the only wear will be during the comparatively short time between the stopping of the shaft 218 by the stop arm 185 engaging a stop bar 178 and the stopping of the function shaft 190 completing its cycle, which in the embodiment of the invention shown and described is one-half revolution but which may be one-third, one-quarter or any other fractional part of a revolution.

As ment oned above the permutation rings or segments 166 are notched on their inner and outer peripheries to permit only one stop bar 178 to operate at a time except in the case of the three function drop-in bars 186, 187 and 188. When one of these drop-in bars operates, one of the stop bars 178 also operates at the same time and serves as a stop for the stop arm 185 to position the selecting shaft 210. The bars 186, 187, and 188 may be connected by means of levers, effective only when the bar drops into the aligned notches in the permutation rings 166, to condition certain associated apparatus for actuation by the function shaft 190 as it completes its half revolution.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the novel invention embodied herein provides a re liable selector mechanism capable of high speed selecting operations. At the same time the selector is compact and very durable since there is a minimum of strain and wear on the elements of the mechanism. In addition, an improved orienting means is provided which enables range adjustment from a remote position while the selector is in operation. The invention as a whole provides a novel construction and arrangement of elements which overcome to a large extent the difliculties and draw-backs of the prior art.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is'claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a selector mechanism for a telegraph printer, a group of individual permutation segments having a plurality of rows of notches, a stop bar associated with each row. of said notches, means for simultaneously rotating said individual segments to align one row of notches, a rotatable. stop arm, means to move the stop bar associated with said aligned row of notches into said row whereby said bar is projected into the path of said rotatable stop arm, a plurality of arms for said stop arm, and a projection on each of said arms to engage the projected stop bar.

2.-A selector mechanism including a rotatable shaft adapted to be selectively positioned, a group of code rings each having a plurality of, notches arranged concentric rows, a code ring cage, a pair of supporting plates forsaid cageeach provided with radially arranged slots, a pair of stopv bars in-each slot arranged in concentric rows, 'a stop arm secured to said rotatable shaft, and means for'adjusting said code rings to align one row of notches to. permit one of said step bars to enter said aligned row and be projected into the path of said stop arm.

3. A mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein a plurality of projections are arranged on said stop arm in a staggered relationship to engage stop bars in different concentric rows.

4. A selector mechanism including a rotatable shaft adapted to be selectively positioned, a group of code rings each having notches on its inner and outer periphery, a code stop bar cage having a pair of supporting plates provided with radially arranged slots, a pair of stop bars in each slot arranged in. concentric rows to respectively coact with the notches in the inner and outer peripheries of said code rings, a stop arm secured to said rotatable shaft, means for adjusting said code rings to align one set of notches, and spring means to cause the stop bar associated with said set of aligned notches to enter said notches and be projected into the path of said stop arm.

5. A selector mechanism including a rotatable shaft adapted to be selectively positioned; a code bar cage having a pair of supporting plates provided with aligned radially arranged slots; a plurality of code bar segments rotatably mounted in said cage, said segments having a plurality of rowsv of notches along the inner and outer periphery thereof; a pair of stop bars in each of said slots associated respectively with a row of notches on the outer periphery and a row of notches on the inner periphery of said code bar segments; a stop arm secured to said rotatable shaft; means to simultaneously rotate said segments to align one. row of notches, and means to move the stop bar associated with said aligned row of notches into said. row and project into the path of said stop arm, thereby engaging said stop arm to selectively position said rotatable shaft.

6. A, selector mechanism including a group of permutation rings, a row of notches on the inner and outer peripheries of said rings, a plurality of stop bars, arranged in inner and outer concentric rows corresponding to said rows of notches,, means for simultaneously rotating said rings to align one set of notches, means to move an associated stop bar into said aligned notches, a rotatable stop arm to engage with said moved stop bar, a rotatable shaft selectively positioned by said stop arm, power means for-driving said rotatable shaft, and means to disasscciate said power means from said shaft upon engagement of said stop arm with said moved stop bar.

7. A telegraph printer selector mechanism including a group of permutation devices having a series of concentric rows'of notches; a plurality of stop bars and a pluralityof auxiliary bars associated with said notches; a rotatable shaft; stop armcarriedbysaid shaft adapted to selectivelypositionsaid. shaft; auxiliary equipment controlled by said auxiliary bars;1'means for adjusting said 12 permutation devices to align certain notches in each device to permit an auxiliary bar to enter said aligned notches to condition said equipment for operation, and

V to align certain other notches-to permit one of said stop movable fulcrum means to select the points about which said fingers pivot; engageable operative portions adjacent the ends of said fingers; selector levers having two operated positions; and power driven means operating in synchronism with said movable fulcrum means for pivoting each finger on one-of said pivot points and moving said engageable portion on the end opposite said one pivot point into, engagement With-a selector lever to move it to an operated position corresponding to the position of said selector finger.

10. A selector mechanism as defined in claim 9, wherein said selector fingers and said fulcrum means are formed so that they will locktogether when in engagement.

ll. A selecting mechanism comprising a group of permutation devices to be positioned by said mechanism, selector levers having two operative positions and no normal positon, selector fingers arranged to pivot about a plurality of points to selectively position said selector levers, movable fulcrum means to select the points about which said fingers pivot, power driven means coacting with said fulcrum means to pivot said fingers about said selected pivot points thereby positioning said selector levers in one of their operative positions, and transfer 162618 to initially complete the positioning of said selector levers in one of their operative positions and then transfer the setting of the'selector levers to the said permutation devices.

12. A mechanism as defined in claim 11, wherein said transfer means includes a plurality oflevers each having a pair of angular faces to -initially and positively position said selector levers-in one of their operative positions.

13. A mechanism as defined in claim 11, wherein said transfer means are operable to simultaneously position all of said permutation devices.

14. In a selector, a plurality of selector fingers successively movable in synchronism with-received code combinations of impulses from a normal position into one or the other of 'two operated positions, an electromagnet, means controlled by said electromagnet to cooperate or not to cooperate with said selector fingers during the movements thereof to determine into which of said operated positions saidselector fingers are positioned, a plurality of selector levers equal in number to the selector fingers and having two operated positions, said selector fingers being arranged-to successively engage said selector levers and move them to operated positions corresponding to those of the associated selector fingers, a group of permutation rings, and transfer means operable after the reception of the last code impulseto transfer the setting of said selector levers to said permutation rings.

15. A selecting mechanism comprising a rotatable selecting shaft adapted to be'select-ively positioned; mechanism for rotating said selecting shaft into a selected position including a plurality ofstop bars, a group of permutation devices operable to select a-particular stop bar, and a stop arm, secured to said shaft for engagement with said selected stop bar; selector levers each having two operated-positions. and no normal position; independentlyshiftable selectorfingerseresponsive to-a received signalsequence for Positioning: aid: elec orlev r n transf r 13 means for transfering the setting of said selector levers to and for operating said permutation devices.

16. In a selector mechanism, a permutation segment comprising a fiat, substantially semi-circular segment having a substantially concentric inner cut out portion, and a plurality of notches in its inner and outer semicircular peripheries.

17. in a selector mechanism, a code ring comprising a substantially semi-circular, fiat ring segment, having a substantially diametric portion integrally joining its ends, and a plurality of notches on its inner and outer semicircular peripheries.

18. In a selector mechanism; an intermittently rotating first shaft; normally inactive clutch means mounted on said first shaft; a second shaft driven through said clutch means when said first shaft starts to rotate; and means to hold said second shaft at a predetermined point in its rotation to selectively position said shaft, whereby said clutch means slips until said first shaft ceases to rotate and remains inactive until said first shaft resumes rotation.

19. In a selector mechanism, an intermittently rotating function shaft, a normally inactive friction clutch secured to said function shaft, a selecting shaft driven by said clutch when said function shaft starts to rotate, a stop arm secured to said selecting shaft and rotatable therewith, and means to interrupt the rotation of said stop arm and selecting shaft to selectively position said shaft causing said clutch drive to slip until said function shaft completes its rotation and thereafter remain inactive until said function shaft resumes rotation.

20. in a selector mechanism; an intermittently rotating function shaft; a selecting shaft adapted to be selectively positioned; means to drive said selecting shaft as said function shaft rotates; a stop member secured to said selecting shaft and rotatable therewith, said member having a plurality of engageable arms; and means to engage one of said arms during each half revolution of said function shaft to selectively position said selecting shaft each time said arm is engaged.

21. In a selector mechanism, an intermittently rotating first shaft, a second shaft intermittently driven by said first shaft and adapted to be selectively positioned, a stop member secured to said second shaft and rotatable therewith, and means to engage said stop member at least twice during each revolution of said first shaft whereby said second shaft is selectively positioned a plurality of times during each revolution of said first shaft.

22. in a telegraph printer selector mechanism, a group of permutation devices having concentric inner and outer peripheries, notches in said inner and outer peripheries, a plurality of movable stop bars arranged in inner and outer concentric rows with respect to said inner and outer peripheries adapted for selective coaction with the notches in said peripheries, and means for rotating said devices to align one set of notches and permit at least one of said stop bars to move into said aligned set of notches.

23. In a telegraph printer selector mechanism, a group of permutation devices each having an arcuate portion defined by concentric inner and outer peripheries, a plurality of notches in said inner and outer peripheries, spaced opposed movable stop bars arranged in a plurality of sets on opposite sides of said device arcuate portions in concentric rows and adapted to coact with said notches, resilient means biassing said stop bars towards said peripheries, and means for rotating said devices to selectively align a set of notches on one of said peripheries and permit at least one of said stop bars to move into said aligned set of notches.

24. A selector mechanism as defined in claim 23 wherein said resilient means comprises a single spring element positioned between the stop bars of each set of stop bars urging the associated bars of such set toward said peripheries.

25. In a telegraph printer selector mechanism a group of permutation devices having an arcuate portion defined id by concentric inner and outer peripheries, a plurality of notches in said inner and outer peripheries, a plurality of spaced movable stop bars arranged on opposite sides of said arcuate portions in concentric rows and adapted for selective coaction with said notches, means for adjusting said devices to selectively align some of said notches and permit at least one of said stop bars to fit into said notches; and a rotatable stop arm adapted to selectively engage the stop bar in said aligned notches.

26. In a selecting mechanism, spaced guide members having aligned slots, a group of permutation devices having concentric inner and outer peripheries mounted between said guide members, a plurality of notches in said inner and outer peripheries, a plurality of spaced opposed stop bars fulcrumed in the slots of one of said members and extending in guided relation through the slots of the other of said members forming concentric rows disposed on opposite sides of said peripheries for selective coaction with said notches, and means for rotating said devices to selectively align a set of notches on one of said peripheries and permit at least one of said stop bars to move into said aligned set of notches.

27. In a selecting mechanism, spaced guide members each having a plurality of radially extending aligned slots, a group of permutation devices having concentric inner and outer peripheries mounted between said guide members, a plurality of notches in said inner and outer periphcries, a pair of spaced opposed stop bars fulcrumed in each of the slots of one of said members and extending in guided relation through the slots of the other of said members forming concentric rows disposed on opposite sides of said peripheries for selective coaction with said notches on one of said perpiheries and permit at least one of said stop bars to move into said aligned set of notches, and a rotatable stop arm having projections arranged in radially spaced angularly oifset relation to engage the stop bar in said aligned notches.

28. in a seiector mechanism, a group of permutation devices each having an arcuate portion provided with concentric inner and outer peripheries, permutatively arranged notches in said inner and outer peripheries, a plurality of movable bars arranged in inner and outer concentric rows with respect to said inner and outer peripheries and adapted for selective coaction with the notches in said peripheries, and means for imparting selective arcuate movements to said devices about an axis concentric with said peripheries to align at least one set of notches and permit the one of said bars aligned therewith to move into said aligned set of notches.

29. In a selector mechanism, a group of permutation devices each having an arcuate portion defined by concentric inner and outer peripheries, a plurality of permutatively arranged notches in said inner and outer peripheries, spaced opposed movable bars arranged in a plurality of sets on opposite sides of said device arcuate portions in concentric rows and adapted to coact with said notches, resilient means biasing said bars toward said peripheries, and means for arcuately moving said devices to selectively align at least one set of notches on one of said peripheries and permit at least one of said bars to move into said aligned set of notches.

30. In a selector mechanism, a group of permutation devices each having an arcuate portion defined by concentric inner and outer peripheries, permutatively arranged notches in said inner and outer peripheries, spaced movable bars arranged on opposite sides of said arcuate portions in concentric rows and adapted for selective coaction with said notches, means for adjusting said devices to selectively align some of said notches and permit at least one of said bars to fit into said notches, a rotatable arm adapted to engage the bar in said aligned notches, and means for rotating said arm.

31. In a selector mechanism, a group of permutation devices mounted for individual arcuate movement about a common aXis and each having a plurality of concentric arcuate edges each formed with permutatively arranged notches, an arcuate row of. bars cooperating with an arcuate edge of each of said devices, means resiliently biasing the bars of said rows individually toward the cooperating arcuate edges of each of said devices, and means for selectively moving said devices about said common axis to align at least one set of notches on the arcuate edges of said group of permutation devices with one of said bars to permit radial displacement of said one bar into said aligned set of notches.

32; In a selector mechanism, a group of permutation devices each mounted for selective independent arcuate movement about a common axis and each having a plurality of arcuate edges concentric with said common axis, an arcuate row' of radially movable bars cooperating with an arcuate edge of each of said devices, means resiliently biasing the bars of said rows individually into engagement with the associated arcuate edges of each of said devices, the arcuate edges of said permutation devices having plurality of permutatively arranged discontinuities formed thereon to effect radial displacement of one of said bars when a set of discontinuities formed by a discontinuity on each of said devices becomes radially aligned with such one bar, and means for selectively arcuately moving said devices about said common axis to effect such an alignment of said discontinuities.

33. In a selector mechainsm, a group of permutation devices each mounted for selective independent arcuate movement about a common axis between limit positions, a plurality of arcuate rows of permutatively arranged ele-- ments on each of said devices concentric with said common axis, the corresponding arcuate rows on said devices being equally radially spaced from said axis, means for sensing the alignment of any axially aligned set of said elements, and means for selectively setting said permutation devices to either of their limit positions.

34. In a selector mechainsm, a permutation segment having a plurality of concentric arcuate edges and comprising a flat substantially semi-circular segment having a substantially concentric arcuate aperture therethrough, and a plurality of notches formed in said arcuate edges.

35. In a selector mechanism; selector levers having two operative positions, means for selectively positioning said selector levers, a group of selectively positionable permutation devices; transfer means coacting with said permutation devices and shiftable into engagement with said selector levers; means to shift said transfer means into engagement with said selector levers; an intermittently rotated function shaft; means driven by said function shaft to shift saidtransfer means out of engagement with said selector levers upon initial rotational movement of said function shaft; automatic latching means retaining said transfer means out of engagement with said selector levers; means operatively synchronized with said selector positioning meansto release said automatic latching means each time said selector levers have been selectively positioned; a drive shaft; disengageable clutch means connectingsaid drive shaft and said function shaft; second latch means for holding said clutch in disengaged position. means effective upon shifting of said transfer means into engagement with selector levers to release said second latch means to permit engagement of said clutch means to rotate said function shaft, said last-mentioned means being effective upon shifting of said transfer means out of engagement with said selector levers, to reset said second latch means, to disengage said clutch and stop rotation of said function shaft after a predetermined angle of rotation.

36. In a selector mechanism, a first continuously rotating shaft, a second shaft, disengageable clutch means interconnecting siad two shafts, transfer means shiftable between active and inactive positions, means for shifting said-transfer means to active position, means operable upon rotation of said second shaft to shift said transfer means to said inactive position, and means cooperating between said clutch means and said transfer means to engage said clutch means when said transfer means is shifted to said active position and thereby shift said'transfer means to said inactive position and to disengage said clutch means upon a predetermined angle of rotation of said second shaft.

37. In a selector mechanism; a two position shiftable transfer mechanism; a rotatable shaft; means for intermittently rotating said rotatable shaft; means controlled by shifting of said transfer mechanism from one position to the other position to initiate rotation of said rotatable shaft at predetermined times and upon shifting back to said one position to discontinue rotation of said rotatable shaft after a predetermined increment of rotation; means for shifting said transfer means to said other position; and cooperating means onsaid transfer mechanism and said rotatable shaft for shifting said transfer mechanism back to said one position upon rotation of said rotatable shaft.

38. In a selector mechanism; a twoposition shiftable transfer mechanism; a power shaft; a function shaft; a disengageable clutch; means biasing said clutch toward engaged position for connecting said power shaft and said function shaft; means connected to said transfer mechanism and operable in one of saidpositions to coact with and maintain said clutch in a disengaged position and operable in the other of said positions to permit engagement of said clutch and consequent rotation of said function shaft; releasable latch means adapted to coact with said transfer mechanism to automatically latch it in said one position; selectively actuated means for releasing said latch means; means to shift said transfer mech anism to said other position; and means connected to said function shaft adapted to coact'with and shift said transfer mechanism to said one position upon initial rotation of the function shaft.

39. The apparatus set forth in claim 38, wherein: said clutch includes a first jaw rotatably journalled on said function shaft and drivingly connected to said power shaft, a second jaw rotatable with and axially slidable on said function shaft, and including at least two radial arms; and said means connected to said transfer mechanism includes a shaft and a latch lug rotatable by said shaft into or out of the path of rotation of said clutch arms to selectively move said second jaw axially on said function shaft out of engagement with said first jaw and to permit the biasing means to move said jaws into engagement.

40. The apparatus set forth in claim 39 wherein said latch lugs means includes a projection having an inclined face thereon adapted to engage one of said arms when moved into the path of said arms to axially slide said second jaw out of engagement with said first jaw.

41. A selector mechanism comprising a plurality of selector levers selectively shiftablebetween two positions, means frictionally retaining said levers in any position, the combined positionsof said levers corresponding to a desired condition, a plurality of independently movable shifting means, each shifting means successively coacting with an associated one of said levers to set additional desired conditions on said levers thereby repositioning all, some or none of said levers; a plurality of permutation devices shiftable between two positions corresponding to the. selector levers; a plurality of transfer levers corresponding to said permutation devices and said selector levers engaged with said permutation devices; means pivotally mounting said transfer levers on a common axis; means to shift said transfer levers as an assembly into engagement with said selector levers whereby all transfer levers and all corresponding permutation. devices will be simultaneously positioned'in accordance with positions of said selector levers which results in repositioning all, some or none of the permutation devices depending on the relationshipof individual selector lever 17 positions with their position in the preceding condition.

42. A selector mechanism comprising a plurality of selector means shiftable be vveen two limit positions, means frictionaliy retaining said selector means in any position, a plurality of independently movable shifting means, each shifting means successively coacting with an associated one of said selector means to thereby reposition all, some or none of said plurality of selector means; a plurality of permutation devices shiftable between two limit positions and corresponding to said plurality of selector means; means operable upon completion of positioning of said selector means to simultaneously transfer the combined position arrangement of said selector means to a corresponding position arrangement of said permutation devices whereby all, some or none of the permutation devices, depending on the relationship of the positions of the individual selector means with their immediate position in the preceding condition, will be shifted from one position to the other.

43. A selector mechanism comprising a plurality of selector levers, selectively shiftable between two limit positions, means frictionally retaining said levers in any position, the combined positions of said levers corresponding to a desired condition, a plurality of independently shiftable means, each shiftable means successively coacting with an associated one of said levers to set additional desired conditions on said levers and thereby repositioning all, some or none of said levers.

44. A selector mechanism comprising a plurality of Y-shaped selector levers selectively shiftable between two limit positions, friction holding means to retain each lever in either of said two positions and a plurality of periodically independently shiftable means, each shiftable means successively coacting with an associated of said levers to reposition all, some or none of said levers in accord with periodic desired arrangements of said levers.

45. In combination, a finger mounted for selective pivotal movement about either of a pair of spaced pivot positions adjacent the opposite ends of said finger, movable fulcrum means for selecting the position about which said finger pivots, engageable operative portions integral with and adjacent the ends of said finger, a member alternatively engageable by either of said operative por- 18 tions at spaced positions thereon, said member being pivotally mounted intermediate said spaced positions thereon and having two operative positions, power driven means operating in timed relation with said movable fulcrum means for pivoting said finger on its selected pivot position and moving the engageable portion on the end of said finger opposite said selected pivot position into engagement with said member to move it to an operated position corresponding to the position of said finger, and means on said finger and said fulcrum means operative while said power driven means is pivoting said finger about said fulcrum means for locking said fulcrum means in its selected position.

46. In a selector mechanism, a first rotatable shaft for intermittently furnishing power to perform various functions of and controlled by said selector mechanism, a second rotatable shaft having positions in accordance with selections of said selector mechanism, a third rotatable shaft for continuously furnishing power to said selector mechanism, means to intermittently positively drive said first shaft from said third shaft and means to frictionally drive said second shaft from said first shaft.

47. A selector mechanism as set forth in claim 46, wherein said means to intermittently positively drive said first shaft includes means to render said positive drive ineffective after a given increment of rotation and said means to frictionally drive said second shaft drives in increments less than said given increment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,811,133 Kleinschmidt June 23, 1931 1,821,110 Morton et al Sept. 1, 1931 1,909,283 Kleinschmidt May 16, 1933 1,931,865 Griffith Oct. 24, 1933 2,170,316 Zenner Aug. 22, 1939 2,183,022 Krum et a1 Dec. 12, 1939 2,326,298 Hewitt Aug. 10, 1943 2,505,008 Salmon Apr. 25, 1950 2,521,750 Salmon Sept. 12, 1950 2,522,461 Potts Sept. 12, 1950 2,585,041 Salmond Feb. 12, 1952 

